Monday, March 19, 2018

Recycle Bin, Week of March 19

It's been a blissful season of wine drinking, having made some terrific discoveries at the intersection of high enjoyment and low price. Experiences like these don't come along too often, so when they do, I make it a point to stock up. Not surprisingly, these are

Talk about purity! Unblemished by oak or any other interference, the brilliance of this gorgeous red shines through with honesty. Made of 100% sangiovese grosso (same variety that goes into Brunello) and fermented in stainless steel, the expressive acidity make for an exciting wine. Hard to go back to drinking Chianti after trying this bargain.

2015 Tenuta Santa Maria Soave Lepia $14

Bordering on opulent, this full-bodied Soave oozes elegance and charm. Made of the garganega grape, this white offers up white flower blossom aromatics and a lovely, full mouth feel. An eye-opener for those whose reference points for Soave are watered-down, insipid wines.

2015 Markus Carignane Domo Lodi $39

While at the higher end of the price spectrum, this is a most unusual specimen. Lovely and with a backbone, its luminous garnet shimmer is with perfumed aromatics wafting beyond the rim. Kaleidoscope of flickering flavors wrapped in high frequency spices play across a solid structure that sits in the foreground. Bright and beaming and complex. Wow.